Jersey City, NJ – Behind 47 percent shooting from beyond the arc, the #10 Montclair State University men's basketball team surged past New Jersey City University 97-70 on Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (13-0, 6-0 NJAC) raced out to an eight point lead within the opening three minutes of the contest, headlined by a pair of three-point makes from KABRIEN GOSS. NJCU trimmed into the deficit over the next two minutes to climb within two possessions, but consecutive long distance shots from RYAN CASSELS vaulted Montclair ahead 20-8 at the 13:53 mark. The Gothic Knights responded with the next six points within the ensuing minute to come within six, but the three-point barrage continued as buckets from KUNGA TSERING and Goss opened a 12-point advantage with 11:49 on the clock.
• After CRISTIAN NICHOLSON extended the lead to a half-high 14, the home side trimmed the deficit down to 10 two minutes later before Cassels connected on another three-pointer. With Montclair ahead 42-31 at the four minute mark, MASON THEAR drained a long range attempt to nudge the lead back to 14 points. The Gothic Knights battled back to within single digits a minute and a half later before a dunk and three from AHMAD ROBERTSON made the score 51-37. After the home side countered with a layup on the next possession, Robertson converted another three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to make the halftime margin 15 points.
• Five points from JACOB MORALES and a layup from MYLES PRIMAS increased the margin to 20 points in the first three minutes of the second half. NJCU would trim the deficit to 66-50 at the 15 minute mark of the game, but another long distance make from Robertson and a pair of free throws from Tsering ballooned the lead back to 21 points. A few minutes later, a 7-0 run from the Red Hawks extended their advantage to 26 with the half at its midway point. The Gothic Knights countered with seven-straight of their own to make the score 78-59 with 8:39 on the clock.
• Cassels and Robertson combined for buckets to push the Red Hawks ahead 24 shortly after, and would later extend the game to 92-61 as Morales found Robertson for a layup and another three from Robertson on the next possession. The Gothic Knights tried to mount one more counter, outscoring the Red Hawks 9-5 over the remaining five minutes, but the visitors closed the contest out for their NJAC-leading sixth victory in league play.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• The Red Hawks extended their winning streak to 13 games, one away from matching the best start to a season in program history (1969-70). Montclair's 13 wins are the second-most in the nation, one of four remaining unbeaten teams in the country.
• Robertson paced Montclair with a career-high 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range, along with a career-best eight boards. 
• Morales poured in 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, with Cassels close behind with 15 points, all on long distance attempts, in 19 minutes off the bench.
• Goss was the final Red Hawk in double figures with 12 points, adding six assists and four rebounds. Nicholson helped orchestrate the offense with eight assists.
• Montclair shot a blistering 50 percent from the field and 47 percent from three-point range for the game, including a first half in which they shot 57 percent in both categories. The full-game mark from three was Montclair's highest since February 15, 2025 against Kean.
• The 19 makes from beyond the arc marked a season-high and the most in a game since January 29, 2025, when the Red Hawks connected on 24 against William Paterson.
• Montclair has surpassed 90 points in nine of their 13 games this season, averaging 92.9 per game for the campaign.

FROM THE COURT

"Great road win, I felt like our depth really impacted the game. We shared the ball and got some great contributions from Ahmad and Ryan off the bench. We need to continue to focus on getting better day-by-day." - Head Coach Justin Potts

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to host Stockton on Saturday, January 10. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 1:00 PM.